Birdsall Estate Equestrian X-Country Scenic Ride
Sunday 30 March 2025
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The Grand National is a race steeped in history, and few things capture its rich heritage quite like the iconic silks worn by its winning jockeys. From instantly recognisable colours to patterns that have become synonymous with legendary victories, these silks tell the stories of triumph, heartbreak, and racing immortality.
Some designs have been carried to victory by Grand National runners multiple times, while others became famous in a single, unforgettable moment.
In this article, we take a closer look at the most iconic silks in Grand National history, the horses and jockeys who wore them, and the memories they evoke for racing fans around the world.
The green and gold-hooped silks of JP McManus are not just recognisable in the Grand National but in National Hunt racing as a whole, as the Irish billionaire is the most successful jumps owner of all time with over 4,200 winners.
Three of those victories have come in the Grand National, with Don’t Push It opening the businessman’s account in 2010 before two triumphs came along like buses thanks to Minella Times in 2021 and I Am Maximus 12 months ago.
They say every National winner has a story, and that’s certainly the case for McManus’ successes. Don’t Push It ensured that the legendary AP McCoy didn’t retire with a taste of glory at Aintree, Minella Times was steered to victory by the first female champion Rachael Blackmore and I Am Maximus ended Willie Mullins’ two-decade wait for a second win in Merseyside.
McManus has an incredibly strong team lined up for the 2025 renewal, with four runners in the top six of the betting at the time of writing—including outright favourite Inothewayurthinkin and last year’s winner I Am Maximus.
Gigginstown House Stud, the stud farm of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, is the proud owner of Tiger Roll, arguably one of the most iconic horses of the modern era.
While their maiden Grand National win came via Rule The World in 2016, it was ‘the Tiger’ who made the burgundy silks recognised in households across the UK and Ireland.
Tiger Roll held off Pleasant Company by a head in a thrilling finish in 2018 before returning to win more comfortably when beating Magic Of Light by almost three lengths 12 months later.
With the 2020 renewal cancelled due to the pandemic and disagreements over weight allocations, Tiger Roll never got the opportunity to try and land the hat-trick.
The late Delta Work was second to I Am Maximus for Gigginstown last year, but O’Leary’s operation is lacking a front-runner this year with Coko Beach 66/1.
Esteemed owner Trevor Hemmings sadly passed away at 86 in late 2021, but his unmistakable green, yellow and white silks have remained on the racecourse ever since.
One of jumps racing’s biggest advocates, the British billionaire has also won the Grand National on three occasions.
The Mullins-trained Hedgehunter delivered Hemmings his first win in 2005, and Ballabriggs and Many Clouds followed up in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Famous Bridge and Richmond Lake could both carry the Hemmings colours this year, but they are 50/1 and 66/1 outsiders.
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